04/08/2015 (Bernama) - A prize money of US$1 million (RM3.8 million) will be awarded to the winner of the International Competition on Oil Palm Mechanisation (ICOPM) organised by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Its minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said the amount was to attract more participation to the competition and for the best innovative machines invented to help improve the productivity of the oil palm industry in the country.

He said participation to the competition was launched in June and would be closed in November.

"The move to raise the prize money to USD1 million for this year's competition is to attract more participation and for the most innovative, efficient and sophisticated machine," he told reporters after opening a seminar on Enhancing Productivity of Sarawak's Palm Oil Industry, here, Monday.

He said last year the prize offered was RM1 million, but none of the participants won.

The competition targets universities, research centres and creative individuals both domestically and internationally.

The competition is part of the ministry's continuing efforts to increase mechanisation level, especially in the area of harvesting.

Further information on the competition can be obtained by visiting the Malaysian Palm Oil Board website at http://www.mpob.gov.my.

About 400 industry players including smallholders in Sibu attended the seminar.